Sports

Morocco must be African soccer kings before dreaming of World Cup, Regragui tells players

Published

2 months ago

March 28, 2023

Following the unprecedented rise of the Moroccan national team in world football, head coach Walid Regragui has told his players they must “become African soccer kings” before they can dream of being world kings.

The Atlas Lions which made history as the first African team to reach the semi finals of a FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year, and defeated Brazil 2-1 in a friendly match played on Saturday, have only won the African Nations Cup on only one occasion and Regragui believes the team has to make its mark on the continent by winning the AFCON trophy next year in Ivory Coast.

Regragui who spoke to journalists after the Atlas Lions sealed its spot for next year’s tournament, said the players must win the trophy they last won in 1976 before they can think of conquering the world.

“I told my players that we cannot be kings of the world before being kings of our continent,” Regragui said.

“You know it means a lot for us to beat Brazil, the top team in the Fifa ranking, and the country of football.”

“This is the month of Ramadan, we have to go and pray Tarawih to confirm if it’s true or not.

“Now we are going to celebrate but it’s a long way to go. We must not get on fire.”

“When I say we must win the African Cup, they say that I am exaggerating.”

“I must be careful, so I say we are not going to play for a win but we only play for happiness,” the coach said.

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Sports

FIFA honours Osimhen after amazing season with Napoli

Published

16 hours ago

June 7, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Following his record-breaking season with Napoli where he scored 26 goals to win the Serie A top scorer award, Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has been honoured by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

The world football governing body Tuesday presented Osimhen with a customized jersey and soccer ball for his “superb displays for Napoli in the 2022/23 season,” which led to Napoli winning the Scudetto after a 33-year wait, according to an official of FIFA, Gelson Fernandes, in a “special message” to the 24-year-old Nigerian forward.

“Victor Osimhen, you represent at the moment what football can do,” Fernandes wrote in an Instagram post.

“From Lagos to Napoli where people love you, you have suffered, but your love for football and determination have guided you.

“Keep going, keep pushing. Africa needs examples and millions are watching and dreaming.”

Osimhen became the first African to win the highest goal scorer award, while also becoming the first player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic to win both the Capocannoniere and the Scudetto in the same season, a record which has stood for 14 long years.

His horde of honours was also enhanced with a National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic bestowed on him by former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Sports

Tunisian tennis star, Ons Jabeur zooms into French Open quarter-finals

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Tunisian tennis sensation, Ons Jabeur took a step further in her quest to win the 2023 French Open Grand Slam when she defeated World number 36, Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-1 to zoom into the quarter-finals.

Jabeur, ranked number 7 in the world, and who only won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open last year, has since then been facing a downward slide coupled with injuries which saw her either missing out on some tournaments or crashing out in early rounds.

However, the 28-year-old who became the first ever African woman to reach a Grand Slam final last year, was at her best when she defeated Pera to move to the next stage on Monday night.

Though Jabeur was not at her fluent best and was herself broken three times in the first set and at the start of the second set, she still raced through the final six games, sealing victory in 63 minutes.

“I never thought about something was missing or I didn’t reach all four of them,” the African said after the match.

“Maybe it’s a good thing. It came and hopefully, we’ll set it to all semi-finals and then all finals,” she added.